Wisner website is gone

[Changeling1]

http://www.wisner.com/ now opens up to a generic search page with links to digital printers etc. Wisner had not updated his site for a couple of years so while I'm not surprised I am saddened to see a large-format camera maker close down its website. If anyone knows any more details it would be nice if you could share them with the Wisner users on APUG.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

I don't think this is surprising.

 

[Paul Sorensen]

The registration expired on May 9, so either they have just let it die, or forgot to pay their renewal.

 

[Michael Kadillak]

For the life of me I could not fathom even the thought of attempting to acquire anything that his meager shop now produces because all he has now is a half assed tax write off as he travels and sails to his hearts content. The lack of communication would drive me nuts.

Clearly, there are others that are much more trusting.

Allowing the website host contract to expire does not surprise me one bit. Making anything more out of it than that is overstepping the situation IMHO.

 

[Oren Grad]

http://racetobermuda.ning.com/profile/RonWisner

 

[Michael Kadillak]

http://racetobermuda.ning.com/profile/RonWisner

Well there ya go.

Why concern yourself about work and the real world if you don't have to.

Fortunately, we have many viable options for ULF and large format cameras to the point where the name Wisner has become completely inconsequential.

Personally I am glad that he came into money and is doing what he wants to do. It takes an accident waiting to happen and excises it from our industry.

Onward!

 

[Phil]

Interestingly, back in January the site was archived on The Wayback Machine - http://www.archive.org/ - now it's blocked.

 

[nickrapak]

That is probably not Mr. Wisner's doing, it is probably that the new registrar placed a notice to exclude the site from the archive, and the effect is retroactive.

 

[Marc Akemann]

Last month I inherited a beautiful mahogany 4x5 Wisner Traditional-S camera and consequently did some research on the camera and the company. I was shocked at all the negative info I found related to bad customer service and quality problems on the later models. It sounded like customers would pay for a camera and then had to wait months and, in a couple of cases, more than a year for their cameras to arrive. Despite what I read, I tried to contact the company through their website about 6 weeks ago (to purchase a set of genuine Wisner bag bellows) but never received a reply. Later I read somewhere that Richard T. Ritter http://tinyurl.com/l57mn6 might be of some help to Wisner customers but his only comment on Wisner was that I would probably never receive a reply to that e-mail. Richard didn't have the bag bellows I wanted but I later found a great, like-new set of Wisner bag bellows on ebay for $59. In the future, if anything breaks on my Wisner I believe Ritter will be able to make whatever part is needed.

I noticed that Helix Camera, out of Chicago, is selling a Wisner 4x5 exactly like mine on ebay for $1495. They say they are a full line Wisner dealer although I see no evidence of that on Helix's website. Here's the auction: http://tinyurl.com/kweeaq .

That's about all I know regarding the Wisner company,...beside the fact that I really like my 4x5 Traditional-S.

Marc

 

[jpeets]

Last month I inherited a beautiful mahogany 4x5 Wisner Traditional-S camera and consequently did some research on the camera and the company. I was shocked at all the negative info I found related to bad customer service and quality problems on the later models. It sounded like customers would pay for a camera and then had to wait months and, in a couple of cases, more than a year for their cameras to arrive. Despite what I read, I tried to contact the company through their website about 6 weeks ago (to purchase a set of genuine Wisner bag bellows) but never received a reply. Later I read somewhere that Richard T. Ritter http://tinyurl.com/l57mn6 might be of some help to Wisner customers but his only comment on Wisner was that I would probably never receive a reply to that e-mail. Richard didn't have the bag bellows I wanted but I later found a great, like-new set of Wisner bag bellows on ebay for $59. In the future, if anything breaks on my Wisner I believe Ritter will be able to make whatever part is needed.

I noticed that Helix Camera, out of Chicago, is selling a Wisner 4x5 exactly like mine on ebay for $1495. They say they are a full line Wisner dealer although I see no evidence of that on Helix's website. Here's the auction: http://tinyurl.com/kweeaq .

That's about all I know regarding the Wisner company,...beside the fact that I really like my 4x5 Traditional-S.

Marc

I like my Wisner Traditional, too. It is very well made, and does everything I ask it to. It has held up to being carted around the globe and along many a trail. When I show it to the public at my shows, they notice it from quite a distance, and are amazed that it isn't an antique.

Way back when, I had some questions about the camera and accessories, and emailed Wisner for info. I was quite surprised that I never got a reply, after multiple queries. Once word got out about the shoddy business practices, they were doomed. Some folks also report problematic cameras, probably later on in production. Too bad, but as has been often pointed out, there are many options these days.

I can't help but wonder if the shop is still producing anything ........